Seeking Justice: To Kill a Mockingbird (2020)

Lesson 13
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ELA

Unit 6

8th Grade

Lesson 13 of 35

Objective


Explain how specific incidents and lines of dialogue reveal aspects of characters and propel the action of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  — chapters 14 and 15

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

During his conversation with Heck Tate, Atticus brushes off Heck’s concern that something bad might happen once Tom Robinson is moved to the Maycomb jail. He says, “Don’t be foolish, Heck. This is Maycomb” (165). Later, Atticus repeats this sentiment on page 167, when he tells Jem and Scout, “No, we don’t have mobs and that nonsense in Maycomb.”

  1. What do these lines reveal about Atticus?
  2. How is the impact of these lines different once a reader has finished the chapter?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • How does Scout’s conversation with Dill on page 162 clarify her understanding of her own family? Provide at least two pieces of specific evidence from the text.
  • How does the scene on page 173 when Jem refuses to go home signify a change in his relationship with Atticus? Provide a specific piece of evidence from the text.
  • How and why does Scout’s conversation with Mr. Cunningham on pages 174–175 impact the progression of events in the text. Provide at least two pieces of evidence from the text to support your answer.
  • Discussion: Do you think that Atticus genuinely believed that the people of Maycomb would not cause trouble when Tom Robinson came to the town jail? Why did he go down to the jailhouse that night if he believed that there would be no issues? Do you think that Atticus is more of an optimist or pragmatist (someone who is more practical about the way things really work)?
  • Discussion: What do you think would have happened if Scout, Dill, and Jem had not arrived?

Lesson Guidance


Notes

  • If time allows, consider showing students the following short video about mob mentality, How Mob Mentality Gets Worse Online by Seeker (YouTube).
  • Ask students to think about where we are in the progression of the story. What conflict is developing? How do you know?

Homework

  • Review To Kill a Mockingbird, chapter 15.

Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.3 — Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
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Lesson 12

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Lesson 14

Lesson Map

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